A violent protest broke out this week at Ntare School, one of Uganda’s most prestigious all-boys’ secondary institutions, following allegations of homosexual conduct among students.
The incident, which unfolded on the school’s Mbarara campus, reflects escalating societal tensions in the wake of Uganda’s controversial 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act.
Eyewitnesses reported chaos on campus as groups of students clashed, prompting intervention from local authorities. No official injuries or arrests have been confirmed as of press time, but damage to school property has been reported.
Ntare School, founded in 1956 and known for producing some of Uganda’s top leaders, has experienced student unrest in the past.
A particularly notable incident occurred this year when 14 students were arrested following violent clashes with neighboring Mbarara High School. However, the recent protest stands out due to its direct connection to Uganda’s increasingly punitive stance on LGBTQ+ issues.
“The situation is deeply concerning,” said a senior teacher at Ntare School who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal.
“What started as a rumor quickly turned into a moral panic. It’s no longer just about discipline it’s about fear.”
The protest comes in the broader context of the 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act, which prescribes life imprisonment and, in certain cases, the death penalty for same-sex relations. The law has drawn widespread condemnation from international human rights organisations.
According to an April 2024 report from Human Rights Watch, Uganda’s Constitutional Court upheld most provisions of the Act despite a lack of credible evidence supporting claims of “forced recruitment” into homosexuality a narrative often used to justify crackdowns.
“This type of incident shows how laws that target identity rather than actions can create dangerous environments for young people,” said Lydia Atwooki, a regional human rights advocate based in Kampala. “Schools should be places of learning, not fear and surveillance.”
Analysts suggest that the resurgence of student violence at Ntare whether driven by peer policing, external cultural pressures, or a combination of both points to deeper fault lines within Uganda’s education system and national discourse on morality and human rights.
Authorities are yet to release an official statement, but the Ministry of Education is expected to launch an inquiry into the incident.
Meanwhile, concerns continue to mount about the psychological toll such episodes are having on Uganda’s youth.
